"This unusual book shows how cartographers distort the information they present—accidentally and deliberately." – Los Angeles Times

"a useful guide to a subject most people probably take too much for granted. It shows how map makers translate abstract data into eye-catching cartograms, as they are called. It combats cartographic illiteracy. It fights cartophobia. It may even teach you to find your way. For that alone it seems worthwhile." – New York Times

"witty examination of how and why maps lie. . . . conveys an important message about how statistics of any kind can be manipulated. But it also communicates much of the challenge, aesthetic appeal, and sheer fun of maps." – Wilson Library Bulletin

"wonderfully entertaining and informative book. . . . His presentation is articulate, his illustrations informative and enlightening, and his research dauntingly thorough." – The WorldPaper

"This book is an informative and entertaining look at cartography – the art and science of making maps. . . . Unlike many dry textbooks it is full of both real and contrived examples of maps that distort the underlying data." – American Statistician

"The prose is clear, easy to read, and sparkles with erudite humor." – Geographical Review

"His eleven-step guide to how land developers lie on the maps they send to local planning commissions should be required reading for anyone who has ever worried about the effects of a new subdivision somewhere nearby." – The Public Historian

"offers a cheery set of instructions for distorting maps—and thereby spotting distortion in the maps of others." – Washington City Paper

"Altogether an engaging volume." – Geographical Journal

"[Monmonier] has a sharp critical eye, but his primary purpose is constructive – he wants to make better maps and have us use maps more intelligently. He writes well about the history of maps because he can easily put himself in the mind of the map-maker and see things much as they saw them. His first thought is for practical problems; his admiration is for elegant solutions." – Visual Studies